The Supreme Court Friday listed a petition filed by Congress leader Kamal Nath seeking directions to the Election Commission to conduct random verification of VVPAT machines during the Madhya Pradesh elections, scheduled later this year. The apex court will hear the petition next week. In the past, the Congress has alleged tampering of VVPAT machines and urged the poll body to take measures to ensure free and fair elections.

In his petition, Nath, who is the president of the party’s unit in Madhya Pradesh, sought verification of 10 per cent of polling stations in every constituency. He also said the voters’ list should be provided in text format, reported news agency PTI.

VVPAT machines give voters immediate proof of the candidate they have chosen. After voting, the machine displays a slip for seven seconds with the name of the candidate, after which it cuts it and drops in into the storage box. The machine can be accessed by officials, but not voters.